The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-06-23

what General Armstrong IL Accom-
plishfng at Hampton Institute.

pIfnhfng ~ hampton lnsututo.
A correspondent of The Springfield
Republican in discussing the work at
Hampton institute says:
One result Of sending preachers to
tho Sandwich islands was alone worth
all the money paid in that direction
since 1881. for 1t gave the United
States man who was ready at the
close Of the civil war to sense and shape
Abe work necessary to mold a race in
chaos TO the symmetry of citizenship.
The life Of Rev. Richard Armstrong.
who msrried Miss Clarissa Chapman.
Of Wesiiield, sister of the late Chief
justice Chapman, reveals strong
character that went on to development
over the prcjudices of his time and en-
gironmcnt To other missionaries the
fact that Mr.. Armstrong accepted the
Office of minister of public instruction
In Hawaii seemed very like the aband-
onmcnt OF the sacred for the secular
office but with simple courage and
great sagacity he took up the greater
work. Samuel c. Armstrong, his son,
saw the methods employed, and
absorbed the spirit OF his father
Kings, chiefs, and people were mere
children governed BY impulse. untrain-
ed to thinking, selfish or generous a'
their moods changed, utterly unable 70
: guide their conduct by any fixed pri'''i-
ple''-does not that description tell the
whole story Of negro and Indian
character as well? So when the years
rolled by and Gen. Armstrong, after
she rebellion had been happily ended,
was detailed to look after our centra-
bands at Hampton, he was not UNI
familiar with the conditions that sur
rounded him. He was the man for the
opportunity, aud he rose TO the mastery
of IT,
Whit has he done? He has begun
al the bottom and no has been since
1867 laying ample Foundations on which
are slowly rising prosperous and self
respecting citizenship for two belated
naces. He has done more for his
country than presidents, senators, and
congressman. and no man deserves
better the generous recognition that
has come and is each year being more
amply paid TO this modest apostle OF
progress. These are strong words,
given with no reservations. but they
are true and sober statements of fact.
The man who can look over what has
been done for the some 600 pupils now
in the Hampton institute, ISL of them
Indian boys and girls; who can see
shem march into Virginia hall with
martial precision. bright, neat, am
-bitious; who is capable OF comprehend
ing the atmosphere that is cast about
Them. aud yet escapes stir in his
hear, and glow in his blood, that one
is no lover of his kind and his nation
mot true American.
With the details of this work your
readers are pretty familiar, but there
are portions of il that touch with a
auickening impulse and an illumina-
ting power our whole educational and
industrial situation. and let me speak
of some of them. The American col
;icge Is growth out of local conditions.
and II must be recognized on the whole
rs very well adapted to perform q
needed work. Perhaps ii is just as
we'll that the boy who seeks aid
should be taken along the borders Of
knowledge in many lines, trained to
obey and respect authority. and then
at the end of four years lie left TO adj
Just himself as best he may to the
uose, conditions VI actual life. The
Young men SO circumslanced can af-
ford 20 do this thing Not so with
others, not so with the great mass OF
those who can command only the aid
of our common school system. and en-
phatically not so with these "mere
children" the negro and Indian youth.
Back we must GO 10 the sound and
wholesome elementary conditions OF
life, seeking 10 train our youth as
soldiers and drill for battle. making
each capable factor in the ranks OF
citizenship.
What are we going to offer such as
these ? We are going 10 train them In
the simple lessons of right thinking. OF